Chair tray having pivoted, spring biased, arm-engaging clamps



y 1957 E. L. CULPEPPER 2,797,973

CHAIR TRAY HAVING PIVOTED, SPRING BIASED, ARM-ENGAGING CLAMPS Filed Feb.25, 1955 11111144; 'l l llllllllllllllllllIlllllllflf q INVENTOR;

EMMEF L. CULPEPPf Q BY r ' rrow 5y United States Patent CHAIR TRAYHAVING PWOTED, sranvc BrAsEn, ARM-ENGAGING CLAMPS Emmett L. Culpepper,Philadelphia, Pa., assignor of onehalf to Anthony S. Barhera,Philadelphia, Pa.

Application February 23, 1955, Serial No. 4s9,92s

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-17 This invention is a foldable tray assemblydetachably connectable to the arm of a chair, sofa, or other piece offurniture, so as to afford a conveniently located support for an ashtray, glasses, or other articles.

It is often diflicul't, particularly when space available in a livingroom or similar area for furniture is somewhat limited, to providesuificiently well located supports for small articles, where they willbe conveniently disposed for persons seated in the area. The main objectof the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a highly compact,relatively inexpensive, attractive tray assembly of a foldable nature,that can be ordinarily stored in a comparatively small amount of space,but can be swiftly attached to the arm of a chair, sofa, or other pieceof furniture to aiford a support for various small articles.

The device constituting the present invention, in this regard, isparticularly well adapted for use as a supplemental table when, forexample, company is being entertained, this giving rise to a typicalsituation in which a substantial number of seated persons may each findthe need of a conveniently located individual support for. ash tray,glasses, etc. The invention has further utility in providing small trayson which refreshments can be supported while individuals are seated in aparticular area viewing television programs, etc.

A more specific object of importance is to provide a tray member asdescribed which, when attached to a chair arm, such as for example thearm of an overstufied or upholstered chair, will not in any way damagesaid arm, but will nevertheless be securely and grippingly engagedtherewithvso as to prevent relative movement of the tray and theassociated arm.

Another object of importance is to provide a tray device as described inwhich the tray element, that is, the platelike. support on which therefreshments or other articles are resting, will be adjustable bodily ina transverse direction in respect to the associated chair arm, withoutdisturbing the clamps on which the tray element is supported and whichare left in gripping engagement with the chair arm.

Another more specific object is to provide clamp means for the mentionedtray element which can be independently adjustable along an associatedtrackw-ay, with each clamp means being adjustable independently of theother, whereby toaadjust the spacing between the clamp means toaccommodate the device for engagement with chair arms of differentthicknesses, and, further, permit selective location of the cooperatingclamp means at diiferent locations on the underside of the tray member,according' to the needs of the particular situation.

Still another object is to provide, in a device as described, means forlocking the clamp means andthe associated tray element against relativemovement, in selected positions to which the tray element and/or theclamp means are adjusted.

A further object of importance is to provide, in a foldice able traydevice as stated, means automatically biasing the clamp means to afolded position against the underside of the tray element, said meansfurther serving as that which causes the clamp means to grippinglyengage the chair arm.

Other objects will appear from the following descrip tion, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a chair equipped with atray device formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through the traydevice substantially online 2-2 of Figure 1, the chair being illustratedfragmentarily and in dotted outline, the chain dotted lines indicating asecond position of the tray element;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, still further e11 larged, online 33 of Figure 2; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view, the scale beingenlarged still further, of the means for connecting the clamps to theassociated trackway; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the tray element per se, the scalebeing enlarged slightly above that used in Figure 1.

The removable tray attachment constituting the present invention hasbeen generally designated at 10, and in the illustrated example, isshown attached to a conventional arm 12 of an upholstered chair or sofagenerally designated 14.

The tray includes .a flat tray element generally designated at 16, whichin the illustrated example, but not necessarily, is approximately ofsemi-circular outer configuratiomwith a straight inner side edge merginginto heavily rounded corners that in turn merge into the opposite endsof the arcuate, approximately semi-circular outer side edge of the traymember.

The tray member, in the illustrated example, includes a flat bodyportion 18 formed of wood, such as plywood, and bonded to the uppersurface of said body portion is a relatively thin cover plate 20 ofplastic or the like. To the underside of the body portion 18 there iscemented or otherwise fixedly secured a bottom plate 22, and extendingabout the periphery of the tray member, as shown in Figure 2, is anornamental trim strip 24.

The tray member, of course, can not only be varied in outer shape, butalso need not necessarily be formed of :a plurality of laminationsenclosed by a trim strip such as that shown. Instead, the tray membercan be simply a single piece of material, such as molded plastic orwood.

To the underside of the tray member, medially between the opposite endsthereof, there are secured .a pair of parallel, straight, open-endedtrack elements 26, these being attached by lag screws 28 or equivalentfastening elements to the tray element 16, said screws 28 being .spaceduniformly along the length of each track 26. If the tray element is ofmolded plastic, the track, as will be understood, might well be formedsimply by being molded directly into the underside of the tray element.

In any event, the tracks 26 as shown in Figure 3 are each formed withinwardly turned guide flanges 30 extending longitudinally thereof,defining guiding slots opening downwardly in respect to the trayelement, and loosely engaged in said slots are the relatively elongated,ap proximately rectangular T-heads 32 of bolts 34, that de pend from therespective tracks, the shanks of the bolts projecting through the slotsdefined by the flanges 30 of each track.

The heads 32 of the bolts are of a sufiicient length to prevent rotationof the heads within the associated tracks, Whlle still permitting thebolts to be freely slidable along the lengths of the tracks.

The shanks of the bolts project through smooth-walled openings 36 formedin the opposite ends of cross bars 38 disposed in engagement, at saidends thereof, with the respective tracks as shown in Figure 3. After theshanks have been extended through the cross bars, wing nuts 40 arethreaded onto the bolts, against the undersides of the cross bars, so asto fixedly clamp the cross bars to the associated tracks in selectedpositions to which the cross bars are adjusted independently of oneanother along the length of the tracks. I.

Secured to the midlength portions of the respective cross bars 38 arespring hinges 42, one leaf of each spring hinge being attached by screwsor the like to the associated crossbar, and the other leaf of eachspring hinge being similarly secured to the midlength portion of arectangular clamp'plate 44 carried by each cross bar. The springs of thehinges are so tensioned as to normally swing the plates 44 in thedirection of the arrows shown in Figure 2, upwardly toward thetrackways, when the device is not in use, and thus, it will be seen thatunder these circumstances. the clamp plates are urged tightly againstthe undersides of the tray element, so as to permit the device tobe-stored away in a relatively small area.

To the free longitudinal edges of the clamp plates 44 there are attachedhandles 46. which are used to facilitate the swinging of the platesoutwardly from their folded. inwardlv biased positions to the usepositions thereof shown in Figure 2.

To the inner faces of the respective clamp pl tes 44 there areadhesivelv or otherwise secured relativelv soft cushioning elements ofpads 48, those illustrated being formed of foam rubber. I In analternative embodiment, not shown. the pads 48. instead of beingadhesivelv attached to the clamp lates, could be provided withperioheral grooves receiving the edges of the clamp plates 44. Thiswould facilitate attachment of the pads to the clamp plates. and wouldfurther permit replacement of the pads whenever desired.

In use of the device. one need merelv loosen the wing nuts 40, to permitbodily adiustment of each clamp assemblv lon the len th of the trackwavdefined bv the par llel tracks 26. Each clamp assembly. as will be undrstood. includes one of the cross bars 38. the associated spring hinge,clamp plate 44, handle 46, and pad 48.

In anv event. each clamp assemblv is bodilv adjustable along the len thof the trackway indeoendentlv of the other clamp assembly. and thispermits the two clamp assemblies to be located anywhere desired alongthe len th of the trackwav. Further. the clamp assemblies when adjustedtoward or away from one another are adapted to be pro erly located forgripping an arm 12 of a articular thickness.

When the clamp assemblies have been ad usted as desired. the ing nuts 40are tightened, and to attach the tray device to the chair arm, it ismerely necessarv that one pull outwardly on the handles to an extentsufficient to provide a space between the pads 48 sufficient toreceivethe chair or sofa arm. Then, the device is shifted downwardlyuntil the top surface of the arm 12 is engaged against the underside ofthe tray element, that is, against the trackway. On release of the arms46, the tension of the spring hinges is permitted to exert itself,

and the clamp plates will, under the strong tension of said hinges, beurged into tight, gripping engagement with opposite sides of the chairarm, thus holding the device securely upon the arm, where it willprovide a conveniently located support for glasses, ash tray, etc.

During the loosening or tightening of the wing nuts, the bolts 34 are,of course, held against rotation due to 4 the fact that the T-heads ofthe bolts are of such length as to prevent rotation of the bolts withinthe tracks.

Once the spacing of the clamp assemblies has been adjusted for aparticular chair arm, of course, the adjustment need not be made on anyfuture occasion, unless the device is to be used on a different armhaving a different width than that on which the device has previouslybeen used. Each time the device is used, it need merely be placed ingripping engagement with the selected arm 12, and should the trayelement not be supported at a particular location transversely of thearm 12 that is most suited to the needs of the particular user, the wingnuts 40 can be loosened, and, with the clamp assemblies remaining inengagement with the opposite sides of the arm 12, the tray member 16 canitself be adjusted transversely of arm 12, as for example, to theposition shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 2. If desired, the wingnuts can be left loose, so that the tray assembly can be adjusted to anout-of-the-way location whenever desired during use thereof.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carryout said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tray attachment for the arm of a chair, comprising: a flat trayelement including a pair of parallel, spaced tracks extending from oneto the opposite side of said tray element at the underside thereof;spaced pairs of bolts depending from said tracks, each of said boltshaving an elongated T-head having its length aligned with the length ofthe track, each of said T-heads being greater in length than the widthof the track to prevent rotation of the bolts in the tracks whilepermitting free sliding of said bolts along the lengths of the tracks; across bar connected at its ends to the bolts of each pair and ex tendingbetween the respective tracks, for adjustment of the cross barsindependently of one another, with their bolts, along the lengths of thetracks; and clamp plates hinged to the respective cross bars underspring bias tending to swing the clamp plates toward one another intoengagement with opposite sides of said arms.

2. A tray attachment for the arm of a chair, comprising: a flat trayelement including a pair of parallel, spaced tracks extending from oneto the opposite side of said tray element at the underside thereof;spaced pairs of bolts depending from said tracks, each of said boltshaving an elongated T-head having its length aligned with the length ofthe track, each of said T-heads being greater in length than the widthof the track to prevent rotation of the bolts in the tracks whilepermitting free sliding of said bolts along the lengths of the tracks; across bar connected at its ends to the bolts of each pair and extending'between the respective tracks, for adjustment of the cross barsindependently of one another, with their bolts, along the lengths of thetracks; wing nuts threaded on said bolts against the undersides of thecross bars, to clampably engage the cross bars against the tracks inselected positions to which the cross bars are adjusted; and clampplates hinged to the respective cross bars under spring 'ing: a flattray element including transversely spaced,

other into engagement with opposite sides of said arms.

3. A tray attachment for the arm of a chair, comprisparallel tracks atits underside each of which opens downwardly in its midwidth area andincludes longitudinal guide flanges extending inwardly from its oppositesides;

.and a pair of clamp assemblies depending from the tracks each includinga pair of connecting elements slidably supported on the guide flangesand depending from the respective tracks through the open midwidthportions thereof, a cross bar underlying and extending between thetracks, the cross bar being formed with apertures at its ends looselyreceiving the respective connecting elements and being slidable upwardlyand downwardly upon said elements into and out of engagement with thetracks, thus to bind frictionally against the tracks when shiftedupwardly on the connecting elements to engage the connecting elementsagainst sliding movement within the tracks, means mounted on theconnecting elements in engagement with the underside of the cross barand shiftable axially of the connecting elements to bind the cross baragainst the tracks, a clamp plate having a hinged connection to thecross bar, the axis of said hinged connection being spaced downwardlyfrom the undersides of the tracks a substantial distance and extendingadjacent one longitudinal edge of the clamp plate, said clamp platebeing swingable about its hinge axis into and out of a position in whichit lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to that of the trayelement and being spaced from the tray element a substantial distancewhen in said position, and resilient, yielding means engaging each clampplate and tensioned to bias the same about said axis toward the clampplate of the other assembly for clamping of a chair arm therebetween.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,713,116 Curtis May 14, 1929 2,501,580 Reid Mar. 21, 1950 2,555,130Harles May 29, 1951 2,647,716 Hudziak et a1. Aug. 4, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 502 Great Britain 1911 643,301 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1950

